Railway car



Oct. 2, 1934. HANK|NS 1,975,573

RAILWAY CAR Filed Jan. 27, 1952 s Shees-Sheet 1 O O O INVENTOR iJ-ATTORNEY:

Oct. 2, 1934. c. HANKINS 1,975,573

RAILWAY CAR Filed Jan. 27, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 MTTORNEW Patented Oct. 2, 1934 1,975,573 RAILWAY GAB Cyrus Hankins, Washington, D. 0., assignor to Wine Railway Appliance Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 27, 1932, Serial No. 589,279

22 Claims.

My invention relates to railway cars and more particularly to cars of the hopper type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide cars of this type with improved means for regulating the size of the hopper discharge openings so that the flow of lading from the car, such as ballast and the like, may be easily and quickly controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door which may not only be supported in difierent partially open positions but also one which may be easily shut to entirely cut oil the flow of lading from thev car. v

A primary feature of the invention consists in providing a hopper having a lading discharge opening with a door adapted to remain in closed position under the influence of gravity and in associating with the door means for preventing its accidental movement toward open position.

Another feature of the invention consists in combining with a hopper door of the type adapted to remain in closed position means for maintaining the door in one or more partially open positions. v

Still another feature of the invention consists in providing the hopper door with a plurality of shoulders which are adapted to be selectively engaged bymova'ble means carried by the hopper for maintaining the door in different partially open positions.

A further feature of the invention consists in associating with the door rotatable means which is adapted to occupy one position for preventing movement of the door toward opensposition, and which is adapted to occupy another position for supporting the door in'partially open position.

A further'feature of the invention consists in providing the hopper door with laterally-project ing trunnions by which it is rotatably mounted,

means being rigidly provided on one of the trunnions for receiving a, removable lever whereby the door may be rotated; A still further feature of the invention consists in providing, in combination with a hopper having a slope sheet-and inner and outer side sheets the latter of which inclines downwardly and inwardly, a door frame provided with a lading discharge opening and having downwardly converging side walls extending into the hopper and respectivelysecured to the side sheets thereof in overlapping relationto their inner faces, a door being rotatablycmounted onthe frame for closing the discharge opening thereof, the door being adapted to remain inclosed position under the influence of gravity.

A still further feature of the invention consists in providing a hopper-of a railway car with a frame having a lading discharge opening, a door comprising a cylindrical segment being rotatably mounted on the frame for closing the lading discharge opening, said frame being integrally provided with a portion for accommodating a removable pry lever whereby the door may be forced toward open position. Y 1

Other and more specific features of theinvention residing in advantageous forms, combinations and relations of parts will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the lower portion of substantially one half of a railway hopper car.

Figure 2,is a side elevational view of a portion of the construction illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on a line corresponding to line 4-4, Figure 1, the hopper door being shown in full lines in a partially open position and being shown in dotted lines in fully open position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View similar to Figure 4 showing the door in closed position.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail sectional views taken on lines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 8-8, Figure 6.

4 Figure 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 9-9, Figure 1; 7

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of the hopper door frame.

gFigures lland 12 are sectional views taken on lines 11-11 and 12-12 of Figure 1.

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view taken on line 13-13, Figure 11; Y

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view taken on line 14-14, Figure 11.

Figure 1'5 is a detail sectional *view taken on line 15-15, Figure 12. i

For'purposes of illustrating the invention a hopper car of the type having hoppers arranged on opposite sides of the center sill has been chosen, and since the construction of the car on one side'of its longitudinal axis is the same as on the opposite side and as the super-structure of the car may be of any desired construction, only one-half of the lower portion of the car has been shown. As the description proceeds it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to a car having hoppers arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the center sills, but is equally applicable to other types of cars.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the center sill and 2, one of the side sills. Both of these sills may be of any desired form and only one of the beam members of the center sill is shown. This member has a web portion 3, inwardly and outwardly projecting lower flanges 4 and 5 respectively, and an inwardly projecting top flange 6 which, as is usual is connected to a similar flange of the other beam (not shown) of the center sill. The side sill may be of angle shape having an inwardly projecting substantially horizontal flange 7 and an upwardly projecting substantially vertical flange 8 to which adjacent side sheets 9 of the car may be conveniently secured.

The hopper shown in the drawings comprises a slope sheet 10 and inner and outer side sheets 11 and 12 respectively. The major portionof the inner side sheet is substantially vertical and adjacent its upper portion inclines upwardly and inwardly as at 13 and terminates in a substantially vertical flange 14 which is rigidly secured to the web 3 of the adjacent beam of the center sill. The major portion of the outer side sheet inclines downwardly and inwardly while its upper portion is oifset as at 15 to pass above the horizontal flange 7 of the side sill so that it may be rigidly secured to the vertical flange 8 thereof. At its extreme lower portion the outer side sheet is formed with a substantially vertical portion 16 and the lower marginal edge of this sheet as well as the inner sheet terminates in a flange 17 which underlies and is secured to the adjacent portion of the slope sheet 10.

Secured to the hopper adjacent the discharge end thereof is a door frame 18 which is provided with a lading discharge opening 19, preferably of rectangular shape. The frame may advantageously be formed as a unitary steel casting and is provided with inner and outer side walls 20 and 21 respectively and a bottom wall 22. The side walls of the frame extend into the hopper and are respectively secured to the side sheets thereof in overlapping relation to their inner faces while the bottom wall 22 of. the frame is secured to the slope sheet 10 of the hopper in overlapping relation to its outer face. The major portion of the inner side wall 20 of the frame is substantially vertical but its upper portion inclines upwardly and inwardly as at 23 to conform to the inclined portion 13 of the inner side sheet of the hopper and it terminates in a substantially vertical portion 24 for attachment to the web 3 of the adjacent beam member of the center sill. The major portion of the outer side wall 21 of the frame inclines downwardly and inwardly but its lower portion is disposed in a substantially vertical plane as at 25 to conform to the vertical portion 16 of the outer side sheet of the hopper. Each of the side walls of the frame is formed with a forwardly projecting portion 26 which extends beyond the discharge end of the hopper and is preferably of triangular shape. One edge of each of these forwardlypro jecting portions may conveniently terminate in a substantially vertical plane and may be formed with a marginal reinforcing flange, the flange on the inner wall being designated by the reference numeral 27 and the flange on the outer wall, by the reference numeral 28.

The bottom wall 22 of the frame may be provided with a downwardly projecting reinforcing flange 29 which instead of terminating at the ends of the bottom wall extends upwardly as at 30 for a limited distance on the side walls of the frame. These upwardly extending portions 30 progressively decrease in width toward the upper ends and the free edge of the reinforcing flange may, if desired, be formed with a rearwardly projecting rigidifying bead 31.

Adjacent their upper ends the side walls of the frame are connected by a member 32 having a web portion 33 and two angularly disposed flange portions 34 and 35 respectively. The web portion 33 is connected to the underside of a ridge sheet 36 which extends transversely of the car and is secured at its opposite ends to the side and center sills. The flange portion 34 projects outwardly from the web 33 and serves as rigidifying means for the top member of the frame while the flange 35 extends downwardly from the web and its lower marginal edge defines the upper edge of the lading discharge opening of the frame.

Rotatably mounted on the frame is a door 37 for closing the lading discharge opening 191 The door is provided with a curved body portion 38 which is preferably in the form of a cylindrical segment and with substantially inner and outer end walls 39 and 40 respectively. Laterallyprojecting trunnions 41 and 42 are respectively formed, preferably integrally, with the end walls 39 and 40 by which the door is rotatably mounted. The forwardly projecting portion 26 of the inner side wall 20 of the frame is provided with an outwardly projecting substantially U-shaped portion 43 for receiving the cooperating trunnion 41 of the door while the forwardly projecting portion 26 of the outer side wall 21 of the frame is apertured as at 44 to receive the cooperating trunnion 42 of. the door and to permit it to project outwardly beyond the adjacent side of the hopper. To form an extended bearing area for the trunnion 42 the outer side wall21 of the frame is formed on opposite sides with a U-shaped portion 45 which borders the lower portion of opening 44. The U-shaped bearing member 43 may be conveniently reinforced by a rearwardly extending substantially horizontally disposed flange 46 and U-shaped bearing member 45 may be reinforced by a rearwardly extending flange 47 which projects on opposite sides of the outer wall of the frame. 1

The door is so mounted and arranged. with respect to thqlading discharge opening that it is adapted to remain in fully closed position and fully open position under the influence of gravity. To assist in rotating the door to and from closed and open position the outer end of the trunnion 42 is provided with means for receiving a removable lever 348. This means comprises a member '49 having a socket portion 50 .for receiving the outer end of trunnion 42 and a cylindrical por tion 51 provided with an opening 52 for receiving the removable lever 48. The opening 52 is so arranged-that the lever when inserted therein will extend at an oblique angle to the axis of rotation of the door so that it will not foul with the side of the hopper when it is actuated to rotate the door. Toprevent the socket portion 50 of the member49 from slipping circumferentially of the trunnion 42 the latter is provided with a plurality of grooves 53 "to receive tongues or lugs54 integrally formed with the socket portion. By this means it will be observed that the member 49 and trunnion 42 are interlocked against relative rotative movements. The member 49 may be con- 1.;

' frame by a wall 63 which veniently detachably connected to the trunnion 42 by means of a bolt which extends through aligned openings in the trunnion and member. To permit access to the threaded end of the bolt which extends into the opening 52 of member 49, the cylindricalportion 51 is cut away as at' 56 so that a nut 57 may be threaded onto'the bolt. The member 49 may be tightly clamped onto the trunnion 42 by providing the grooves 53- in the trunnion and the tongues 54 in the socket portion 50 with relatively inclined cooperating surfaces 5 V 7 To prevent the escape'of lading from the car, the end walls of the door are formedwith lat-' erally projecting cylindrically curved flanges 59 which in the present embodiment of the invention constitute continuations'of the curved bodyportion-38 of the door. Theflange 59011 the inner end wall 39 is adapted to extend between concentrically spaced cylindrically curved flanges 60 which project outwardly from the inner side wall 20 of the frame while the fiange'59 formed on the outer end wall 40 of the door is adapted to extend between concentrically spaced cylindrically curved flanges 61 which project inwardly from the outer wall 21 of the frame. The flanges 60 are vertically disposed and define with the adjacent portion of the inner wall 20 of the frame with which they are integrally formed a groove or channel. The flanges 61 are also vertically disposed and are integrally connected by a web 62 which extends at an angle to the major portion of the outer side wall 21 of the frame but coincides with andin fact forms 'aportion of the vertical portion 25 adjacent lower portion of the outer wall. The portion of the channel or groove formed by the flanges 61 and the web 62 which extends above the vertical portion 25 is integrally connected to the inclined outer side wall of the is cylindrically curved and constitutes a continuation of the innermost flange 61.

By providing the frame with grooves or channels for receiving flangeswhich project laterally from the end walls of the door, it will be readily appreciated that lading is prevented from escaping from the hopper between the frame and the door ends. To prevent'lading from escaping from the hopper between the upper portion of the frame and the corresponding portion of the door when the latter is in closed position, the main body portion 38 of the door is provided with an offset portion in the form ofa flange 64. As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5, the flange 64 is adapted to overlappingly engage the outer face of the flange 35 of the top member 32 of the door frame. The lower portion of the hopper is sealed to prevent the escape of lading therefrom by forming the bottom wall 22 of the frame with a downwardly offset portion 65 which is adapted to receive the extreme lower edge of the door. when the latter is in closed position. This portion 65' of the frame is also designed to afford a seat for the door whereby. the latter is supported in closed position. It will also be noted however, that since the flange 64 at the upper edge of the door is adapted to overlappingly engage the upper porticn of the frame, these parts may also assist in supporting the door in closed position.

To reduce the weight of the door without decreasing its strength'and rigidity, the end walls thereof are preferably provided with apertures 66. These apertures divide each end wall into a plurality of legs 67, 68, and 69 which extend radiallywith respect -to the adjacent trunnion. The outer legs, 67 and'68, may. advantageously be reinforced along their outer edges by flanges 70 and the intermediate leg 69 may be centrally reinforced by'a flange 71. The end walls of the frame may be additionally reinforced by flanges. 72 which border and surround the apertures 66 thereof.- The main body portion 38 of the door is reinforced by laterally extending flanges 73 which respectively connect flanges 70 and 71 of one end wall with corresponding flanges of the other end wall and by longitudinally extending flanges 7 f which are disposed intermediate flanges 73.

Although the door is adapted to remain in closed position under theinfluence of gravity, it isdesirable to'provide mechanism for preventing the door from accidentally moving towardopen position while the car is i'n transit. This mechanism comprises detent meanspivotally mounted on the door frame adapted to engage a shoulder 75 which is rigid with the door'and preferably constitutes a portion of a lug or tooth designated by a reference letter a formed integrally with a flange 76 projecting laterally from the outer end wall 40 of the door. with the adjacent flange 59 :ofjthe door and is adapted. tooverlap the outer face of the outermost one of the flangesGl of;the frame. The. detent means may advantageously'ccmprise a rotatable'member 77 having :a head'portion 78 and a'spindle or shaft portion 79 which extends through an opening in a hub portion. 80 with which the outer sideWailtZl of'ithe frame is preferably integrallyprovided. The hub portion may be conveniently reinforced by flange 80 which extends rearwardly therefrom and .may at its inner end integrally connect the web 62 of the frame with the outer side wall thereof. The spindle o1 shaft portion 79 is provided with a laterally extending opening for receiving a bolt 81 by which an. operating handle 82 may be detachabiy securedon the outer end of the spindle portion which projects'beyond the 'outerzface of thefadjacent sidewall of the frame. The head portiorr78 of the rotatable member 77 is provided'witha lug or projectingportion'83 which, as shown in Figure '5; is adapted to engage shoulder 75' of tooth a on the door. The operatinghandle 82'is counterweighted and is connected to the spindle 79 in such a manner that the lug '83 will always tend to point upwardly. J V Whenthe detent means mm the position shown in Figure 5 -and also. in the full line position shown in Figure 2, movement of the door toward open position is prevented since movement of the door in this direction would tend to induce clockwisemovement. of the detent as viewed in Figure 2 and this is' impossible as lug 83 of the detent is also in engagement with the underside of flange 76 on which tooth a is formed. To enable the door to be'rotated toward fully open position it is only --necessary' to rotate the detent means in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure'2. If thedet'ent-is rotated all the way around into thedotted line position'shown. in this figure, it'will-be apparent that the door may be readily moved toward open position. It is to befnoted that the detent means will remain both in the fullline and in the dotted'line position shownin Eigurfz under the influence of gravity. To support the door in the fully open position shown in dotted lines Figures 2 and 4, it is provided with a laterally projecting portion 84 which may be convenientlyformed integrally with flange 76 on the door for engaging the head This flange is concentric Bill portion '78 of the detent means. This portion 84 is so arranged that it will engage the head portion of the detent irrespective of the position occupied by the lug 83. After the door has been opened and it is desired to move it to closed position, it is preferred that the detent be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 from the dotted line position shown therein to the full line position so that when the door assumes fully closed position, it. will be automatically locked against opening movement.

When the car is used in ballast service, it will be found desirable to regulate or control the amount of ballast discharged from the car as some portions of the road bed will need more ballast than others. Means is thus provided for supporting the door in different partially open positions to vary the size of the discharge opening and thereby regulate the amount of ballast discharged from the car. This means comprises a plurality of shoulders 89, 90, 91, and 92 respectively formed by teeth a, b, c and d which, as in the case of tooth a are integral with flange '76 of the door. These shoulders are selectively engageable by lug 83 of the detent means when the latter is disposed in .the position shown in Figure 4 and in this figure the detent means is shown in operative engagement with shoulder 90 of tooth b. It will, of course, be appreciated that since gravity acts upon the door to cause it to assume closed position when it is supported in any one of the partially open positions of which it is capable of being supported, and since gravity also acts upon the detent means to cause it to rotate in the same direction the door rotates in assuming closed position, there is no tendency for the detent means to move from engagement with any one of the shoulders with which it is designed to cooperate to support the door in various partially open positions. When the detent means is in the full line position shown in Figures 2 and 5, and it is desired to open the door and support it in a partially open position, the detent is rotated in a direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 until it assumes the dotted line position shown in that figure. The door may then be opened. During opening movement it will be observed that tooth a will pass over lug 83 of the detent and the latter will automatically 1 drop into position to engage shoulder 89. The

door may be supported in this position or it may be rotated further without in any way manipulating the detent means whereupon shoulder 90 of the tooth b will be brought into engagement with the lug. This process of opening the door by increments may be continued until the desired flow of ballast from the car is obtained. Should it subsequently be desired to decrease the flow of ballast, it will be apparent that if the detent is rotated slightly until it is disengaged from the shoulder with which it may have been cooperating, the door may then be rotated either manually or under the influence of gravity, toward closed position. For example, if the lug 83 is in engagement with shoulder 91 of tooth c and it is desired to decrease the flow of ballast, the detent would be rotated slightly to move lug 83 from engagement with shoulder 91. The door can then be rotated toward closed position and if the detent after being moved from cooperation with tooth c is immediately released, lug 83 will automatically engage shoulder 90 of tooth b. I To support the door in a position more closely approximating fully closed position, the detent would not be released until after tooth b has moved beyond the position in which it is capable of engaging the lug of the detent at which time the detent would be released to move into operative engagement with shoulder 89 of tooth a. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the detent mayengage any of the teeth formed on the door to support the door in different partially open positions. As difficulty may be encountered in rotating the door from fully clos dposition, it is preferred to provide means affording an additional mechanical advantage for opening the door than will be afforded by-the use of lever 48. For this purpose the door frame is provided, preferably integrally, with a forwardly projecting bracket 85 having an aperture 86 for receiving a removable pry lever 87 shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. This lever after being inserted through aperture 86 is adapted to engage a convenient portion of the door such as that designated by the reference numeral 84, so that an operator by manipulating its free end in the proper direction may readily force the door to rotate toward open position. If desired, a bracket 85 may be rigidified by a marginal flange 88. a In assembling the door with the frame, the door is mounted on the frame before the member 49 is connected to trunnion 42 and before the detent means is associated with the frame. The door may be easily and quickly associated with the frame by disposing it in a position such as the door. shown in Figure 3 would occupy when rotated 180 from the position it occupies in that figure, and then raising the inner end thereof a suflicient distance to permit trunnion 42 to be II inserted in opening 44 in the outer side wall of the frame. The inner end of the door is then lowered so that trunnion 44 will be disposed in the U-shaped bearing 43. The door may then be rotated to closed position and member 49 may be 1.

secured to trunnion 42 by bolt 55. In order to assemble the detent means with the frame, it is necessary to rotate the door so that the legs of the .outer end wall thereof will not cover the opening through the hub 80 of the frame. spindle portion of member 79 is, of course, inserted through the opening in the hub from the inner side of the wall and the operating handle 82 may be easily secured to the spindle by the J. JC-

bolt 81. It is to be particularly observed that,

although the member 49 may be secured to the trunnion 42 immediately after the door has been mounted on the frame and before being moved to closed position or after it has been moved to closed position, the detent means can only be connected to the frame after the door has been rotated far enough in a closing direction to cause portion 84 thereof to pass beyond the hub on the frame for receiving the detent because the head 78 of the detent means when assembled with the er frame is disposed in the path of movement of portion 84 and would, therefore, prevent the closing of the door should the detent be assembled with the frame before at least a partial rotation of the door toward closed position.

' From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that simple and rugged means have been provided for closing the discharge end of a hopper and for maintaining the closing means in different partially open positions for regulating and controlling the flow of lading such as ballast from the hopper. Moreover, simple and reliable means have been provided for rotating the closing means to and from open and closed position and for preventing wow fully closed position. ]Iclaim':

1. 1A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a substantially cylinical segment constituting a door for closing'the opening, said door being adapted to remain in closed position under the influence of gravity and being integrally provided with a shouldered portion, and a pivoted detent mounted on the hopper and engageable with said portion for preventing accidental movement of the door toward open position. 2. A railway. car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a door for closing the opening, said door being adapted to remaininclosed position under the influence of gravity and having an arcuateplate like portion provided on its inner face with a plurality of shouldered portions, and a member movably mounted on the hopper adapted to. selectively engage said shouldered portions for sup-porting the" door in differ ent partially open positions. f l

3. A railway car having a hopperprovided with a lading discharge openinga, door for closing the opening, said door being adapted to 'remainin closed position under theinfluence of gravity and being provided with an arcuate plate like portion havinga plurality of shouldered portions on its inner face, and a member pivotally mounted on accidentaLrotation of the elosing means from the hopper engageable with one of said shouldered portions for preventing movement of the door toward open position, said memberbeing also selectively engageable with others of said shoul dered portions for supporting the door in different partially open positions. I I v 4. A railway car having a hopper. provided with a lading discharge opening, a substantially cylindrical segment constituting adoor for closing the opening, said door being adapted to remain in closed position'under the influence of gravity and being provided with an arcuate flange having a plurality of teeth on its inner face, and'a pivoted detent'mounted on the hop-- per and selectively'engageable withsaid teeth for supporting the door in different partially open positions. f 5'. A railway car having a hopper provided with a'lading discharge opening, a door for closing the opening provided withan arcuate portion integrallyforme'd with shouldered means, and a detent rotatably mounted .onthe hopper, said detent being rotatable in one direction toengage said shouldered means for'preventing movement of'the door toward open position and being rotatablein the opposite direotion'to engage said shouldered means for supporting the'door in a partially openposition. j d s GQA railway car having a hopperprovided with a lading discharge opening, a; doorfor closing the opening, said doorjbeingintegrally provided withv an arcuateflange having spaced shouldered portions, and'rotatable means carried by the hopper selectively engageable with said shouldered portions, said means when rotated in one direction being in position to engage one of said shouldered portions to prevent movement of the door toward open position and when rotated in the opposite direction being in position to permit opening movement of the door and to engage another of said shouldered portions to support the door in a partially open position.

'7. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a rotatably I mounted door associated with the hopper for closing the opening thereof, said door being rigidly provided with trunnions by which it is rotatably mounted, one of said trunnions having a portion detachably connected thereto for receiving. a removable lever whereby the door may be rotated'. lj

d 8.' A railway car having ahopper provided with aladingdischarge opening; a rotatably mounted door. associated with the hopper for closing the discharge opening thereof, said door being provided with trunnions by which it is rotatably mounted,'and a member connected to one of said trunnions in interlocking relation therewith and having a portion adapted to accommodate a removable lever whereby the door may be rotated.

9 A. railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening,.a rotatably mounted door associated with the hopper for closing the discharge opening thereof, said door'being provided with trunnions by which it is rotatably mounted, anda member rigidly secured to one of said trunnions and having a socket portion for receiving the outer end of the latter, said member being provided with aportion foraccommodating a removable lever whereby the door may be r0- r r q a 10. In a railway car, the combination with a hopper'having a slope sheet and inner and outer side sheets, said outer side sheet being inclined downwardly and inwardly, of a door frame having 'a' lading discharge opening, said frame being provided with downwardly converging side walls extending into the hopper and respectively se cured to the side sheets thereof in overlapping relation to. their inner faces, and a door rotatably mounted on said frame for closing the lading discharge opening thereof, said door being adaptfedlto' remain in closed position under the influence of gravity. 11 Ina railway car, the combination with a hopper having a slope sheet and inner and outer side sheets, said outer side sheet being inclined downwardly and inwardly, of a doorframe hav ing a lading dischargeopening, said frame being provided with downwardly converging side walls extending into the hopper and respectively secured to the side sheets thereof in overlapping relation 'to' their inner faces, and a door rotatably 'mounted on said frame and having a curved body portion for closing the lading dis charge opening thereof, the side walls of the frame being providedwith portions projecting toward each'other respectively adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the side edges of the door when the door is in closed position to prevent the escape of fine lading from the car. up 12. In arailway car, the combination with a hopper having a slope sheet and inner and outer side sheets; said outer side sheet being inclined 'downwardlyand inwardly, of a door frame having a lading discharge opening, said frame being providediwith downwardly converging side walls "extending into the hopper and respectively securedto the side sheets thereof in overlapping relation to their inner faces, and a door rotatably mounted on the frame and having a cylindrically curved body portion for closing the lading discharge opening of the latter, the outer side wall of the frame being provided with an inwardly projecting cylindrically shaped portion, said por- 13. In a railway car, theco'mbination with a hopper having a slope sheet and inner and outer side sheets, said outer side sheet being inclined downwardly and inwardly, of a door frame having a lading discharge opening, said frame being provided with downwardly converging side walls extending into the hopper and respectively secured to the side sheets thereof in overlapping relation to their inner faces, and a door rotatably mounted on the frame and having a cylindrically curved body portion for closing the lading discharge opening of the latter, said side walls of the frame being integrally formed with vertically disposed cylindrically curved channel portions for respectively receiving adjacent side edge portions of the door.

14. In a railway car, the combination. with a hopper having a:slope sheet and inner and outer side sheets, said outer side sheet being inclined downwardly and inwardly, of a door frame having a lading discharge opening, said frame being provided with downwardly converging side walls extending into the hopper and respectively secured to the side sheets thereof in overlapping relation to their inner faces, and a rotatably mounted door having a cylindrically curved body portion for closing the lading discharge opening of the frame, said door being rigidly provided 7 with laterally projecting trunnions, one of the side Walls of the frame having an inwardly projecting portion affording a support for one of said trunnions and the other side Wall of the frame having an opening for receiving the other of said trunnions, said last-named trunnion extending through said opening and terminating beyond the adjacent side wall of the frame.

15. A railway car provided with a hopper, a frame secured to said hopper and having a lading discharge opening, a'door comprising'a cylindrical segment rotatably mounted on the frame for closing the lading discharge opening thereof, one edge of the door having a cylindrically curved portion arranged in overlapping relation with an adjacent portion of the frame, said cylindrical portion being provided with a plurality of shoulders, and means pivotally mounted on the frame and selectively engageable with said shoulders for supporting the door in different partially open positions. 7

16. A railway car provided with a hopper, a frame secured to said hopper and having a lading discharge opening, a door comprising a cylindrical segment rotatably mounted on the frame for closing the lading discharge opening,

and rotatable means journaled in the frame having a portion engageable with the door for preventing movement thereof in one direction, and a member rigid with said means adapted to be manipulated by an operator for rotating the latter into an inoperative position.

1'7. A railway car provided with a hopper, a frame secured to said hopper and having a lading discharge opening, a door comprising a cylindrical segment rotatably mounted on the frame for closing the lading discharge opening, a member rotatably mounted on'the frame, one end of said member being integrally provided with an offset portion engageable with the door for preventing movement of the latter in one direction and the other end of said member being detachably provided with means adapted to be manipulated by an operator for moving said offset portion from engagement with the door.

18. A railway car provided with a hopper, a frame secured to said hoper and having a lading discharge opening, a door comprising a cylindrical segment rotatably mounted on the frame for closingthe lading discharge opening, said frame being integrally provided with a portion for accommodating a pry lever for forcing the door toward open position.

19. A railway car provided with a hopper, a frame rigidly'secured to. said hopper and provided with a lading discharge opening, a door comprising a cylindrical segment rotatably mounted on the frame for closing the lading discharge opening thereof, said door being adapted to remain in closed position under the influence of gravity, said frame being integrally provided with a portion for accommodating a removable pry lever whereby the door may be forced toward open position.

20. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a door for closing the opening having end walls and a cylindrically-shaped body portion, said end walls being respectively disposed adjacent the sides of the hopper and one of said walls being provided with a laterally projecting arcuate-shaped portion having a plurality of shoulders, and movable means carried by the hopper for selectively cooperating with said shoulders to maintain the door in different positions.

21. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge'opening, a door for closing the opening having end walls and a cylindrically shaped body portion, said end Walls being respectively disposed adjacent the sides of the hopper and one of said walls being integrally provided with a plurality of arcuately arranged shoulders, and movable means carried by the hopper for selectively cooperating with said shoull the portion of the frame bounding the top of the discharge opening thereof.

CYRUS HANKINS. 

